Cultivator.



J. G. AVARY.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1010.

1,040,990. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. C. AVARY.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. e, 1910.

1,640,990. Patented oct. 15,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. C. AVARY.

OULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1910.

1,040,990. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Snom,

J. C. AVARY.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1910.

Patented 0ct. 15, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' disconnecting the motor and the running 'low places or small' ravines, as well'as Vfor onrrED srATEs P'rENT Ormea;

JAMES CORBIN AVARY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA? CULTIVATOB.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, [JAMES C. AvARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, county of Fulton, and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cultivators andv particularly to power' driven cultivators.

The object of my invention is to provide a cultivator of theclass'mentioned adapted for use in grading5f,the land and filling in cultivating the land.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character in which the grading and cultivating may be carried on simultaneously.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cultivator equipped with means for thinning out the plants where they are too thick or close together.

A further object of my invention is'to provide a device characterlzed as above mentioned particularly adapted for use in the cotton fields, and to this end to provide a cultivator equipped with means for breaking and loosening the soil, means for uprooting the grass which fre uently forms a tough mat over the ground, a series of disks for pulverizing and leveling the ground and when desired a plurality of cultivator shovels or shoes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as' mentioned with means for moving the disks laterally in either direction to thin out the plants where there is too thick a stand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device characterized by the above mentioned features and in which the various cultivating members may be readily raised and lowered out of and into engagement with the ground as desired.

Other objects will appear hereinafter'.

With these objects 1n View, my invention consists generally in a cultivator provided with transverse horizontally disposed ways, a carriage slidably mounted in said ways, and provided with a plurality of cultivator disks, a motor, means for connecting and gear of the cultivator, and means for con- Specieation ot Letters ,Patent Application led September 6, 1910. Serial No. 580,625.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912,

necting the motor to the carriage to move the same laterall in either direction as de sired, whereb t e cultivator disks may be moved latere 1y when desired whether the motor is connected to the driving gear .o1 11013.V .l My invention furthervconsists in a cultivator comprising a main frame mounted upon the wheels, amotor, means for connecting the mo-tor to the drivin gear and fol disconnecting the same thererom, vertically disposed ways on said main frame, an auxiliary frame provided with guide members slidably mounted in the ways, means. for raising and lowering the auxiliary'frame, transverse horizontally disposed ways on said auxiliary frame, a carriage slidabl;I mounted in said ways, cultivator disks on said carriage, and means whereby said carrii ge may be moved in either dlrection by sai motor.

My invention further consists in a cultivator characterized as above mentioned in combination with a flexible connect-ion between the motor on the main frame and the carriage on the auxiliary frame whereby the latter may be raised and lowered as desired without interfering with the connection.

My invention further consists'in a cultivater as mentioned having a power driven shaft on the main frame and a'shaft on the auxiliary frame provided with cultivating members, a sprocket chain connecting the shafts, means for raising and lowering the auxiliary frame and means for taking u the slack of said chain' as the frame 1s raised.

My invention further consists in the various details of construction and arrangements of parts, all as will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side eleva-tion of a cultivator embodying my invention in its preferred form, the auxiliary frame being illust-rated in raised position in dotted lines, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the drivers seat being omitted to better illustrate the device, Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line :v-cv of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section taken substantiall on .the line y--y of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a simi ar v iew taken on the line z-z of Fig. l, Fig. 6 1s a perspective View of one of the vertical ways or guides on the main frame for the. auxiliary frame; Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on substantiall the line 'v-v of Fig. 2, showing the iexib e connection between the motor driven shaft on the mam frame and the auxiliar frame and illustrated upon an enlarge scale, Fig. 8 1s a perspective view of the transverse ways on the auxiliary frame, Fig. 9 1s a slde elevation of one of the rotary cultivator members, and Fig. 10 is a section on .the line lw-/w of Fig. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, 1v indicates the main frame of the cultivator which comprises a pair of longitudinally disposed members 2-2 which are preferably formed of channel irons. The members 22 lie substantially parallel with each other throughout the greater portion of their length but at their forward ends they converge inwardly and upwardly as -at- 3-3, terminating in parallel forward ends 4 4 which are closer together and in a higher lane than the major portions of the memers. A spacing block 5 is secured between .the ends 4 by bolts 5. At substantially the center, the members 2 are arched upwardly, the arched portion comprising the vertical portions 7--7 and the horizontal portion 8. The purpose and utility of the arched portions will appear hereinafter. The members 2-2 are rlgidly connected by transverse members 9 9, 10-10 and 11--11, the members 9 extending between the port-ions members 11 connecting the rear ends of the members 2, and the members 1'0 being arranged intermediate the arch and the rear end of the frame.

A motor 12 is supported upon the transverse members 11. I have illustrated the motor conventionally as a gasolene engine, 13 indicating the supply tank and 14 the engine Shaft.

15 indicates the operators seat supported upon members 16 extending upwardly from the horizontal-portion 8 of the arch.

The rear portion of the main frame 1 is supported upon a pair of traction wheels 17 mounted upon a shaft or axle 18 journaled in bearings 19 secured to the members 2. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft or axle 18 is a sleeve 20 and fixed to one end of the sleeve is a sprocket gear 21 connected by a sprocket chain 22 to a sprocket gear 23 on the engine shaft 14. -The sleeve and gear 21 are driven continuously while the engine is running.

24-24 indicate collars fixed to the shaft 18 to prevent longitudinal movement ofthe 8 *the `readily driven or stopped, when the engine is running,b l merely throwing the clutch 26 into or out o "engagement with the clutch 27.

The forward portion of the' main frame is...

supported upon a pair of guide wheels 29 mounted upon an axle 30 having bearings in a bracket or yoke 31. Fixed to the bracket or yoke 31 is an upwardly extending post 32 swiveled or rotatably mounted in the block 5 and provided at its upper end with a worm gear 33.

34 indicates ball bearing members between the block 5 and the yoke 31. Mounted in bearings 35 secured to the forward end of the mam frame is a shaft 36 provided with a worm 37 meshing with the gear 33. The shaft 36 extends rearwardly i to a point in front of the seat 15 where it is provided with a hand wheel 38. It is obvious that by turning the wheel 38 the device may be readily steered or guided.

Mounted for vertical reciprocation on the main frame 1 is an auxiliary frame 39 which comprises a pair of horizontal, longitudinally disposed parallel members 40-40 and a pair of transverse yokes 41 connecting the members 40 at or adjacent their ends. The members 40 are similar in shape to the members 2 but considerably shorter, that is they are formed with arched portions intermediate therein comprising vertical portions 42 and an upper horizontal portion 43. The arched portions of the members 2 and 40 are in transverse alinement. The yokes 41 each comprise parallel vertically disposed sides or ends 44 and a horizontal transverse upper portion 45. The portions 44 are slidably mounted in ways 46 on the main frame members 2 whereby the auxiliary frame may be raised and lowered and yet held iirmly in either operative or raised position. The ways 46 each consist of a vertically disposed channel member as illustrated in Fig. 6 and rovided with a flange 47 affording means or attaching the same in position. The flange 47 extends from the opposite side o-f the channel member from the groove or ways formed therein and intermediate the ends preferably nearer the upper end in order that the ways may extend both above and below the members 2 when the flange 47 is secured to the up er edge of said members. The auxiliary ame is adapt-ed to be frame is a short shaft 97 rovided with a spur gear 98 meshing with t e rack 93. The upper lface of the member 84 is cut away or recessed as at 99 to lessen the weight and to give space for the gear 98.

Mounted in bearings 100 secured to the transverse members 10 of the main frame,`is a short shaft 101, the rear end of which is provided with a beveled gear 102.

103 indicates a telesco ic shaft formed of the two members 104 an 105 which are connected respectivelv to the shafts 101 and 97 by universal couplings 10S-107 respectively. The member 104 is provided with a longitudinal slot 108 and themember 103 with a key 109 whereby the shaft members are rotatably fixed with relation to each other but longitudinally slidable. By this arranger ment a constant, positive and flexible connection is maintained between the gears 102 and 98 which are mounted upon the main and auxiliary frames res eotively, and the auxiliary frame allowed ree vertical movement without interfering with said connection.

Keyed to the sleeve 20 on the shaft 18, and longitudinally slidable thereon are a pair of beveled gears 110-111 which are adapted to be thrown into en agement with the bevel gear 102 when it is esired to move the carriage 88 laterally. It is obvious that but one of the gears 110 or 111`shculd engage the gear 102 at a time, and to this end I connect said gears by a yoke 112.

113 indicates a lever connected to the voke for shiftinv the gears and which extends to a point adJacent the seat 15. By throwing the gear 110 into engagement with the gear 102 the carriage 88 is `moved in one direction and by throwing the other gear 111 into engagement therewith the carriage is moved in the opposite direction.

It should be observed that the disk carriage 88 may` be moved laterally of the device when the cultivator is moving 'forwardly or when it is stopped. When used in the lfirst mentioned way 1t may be utilized for leveling the ground and filling small ravines, and 1n the latter way for thinning out plants when desired.

The auxiliary frame is-of less width than the main frame but the member 84 is of substantially the same width as the latter, therefore it is necessary to arch the side members 2 to permit raising and lowering' f the auxiliar frame and give clearance for the ends o the member 84, and at the same time keeV the main frame suiciently low to give sta ility to the device.

If desired a number of cultivator'shovels 114 may be arranged behind the disks 92.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters from certain' of said wheels for driving or sto ing the' device, an auxiliary frame sli a l mounted on said main frame for vertic reciprccation thereon, a carriage onsaid auxiliary frame and adapted to move transversely thereon in either direction,4

disks on s aid carriage, and means for connecting said carria e to said motor to move the former in the direction desired, substanl tially as described.

2. In a device of`the class' described, a main frame mounted upon the wheels and comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal side members and a plurality of transverse members rigidly connecting the same, said side members being?? arched intermediate their ends, an auxiliary me mounted for vertical reciprocation on said main frame and of less width than said main frame, a transverse member on said auxiliary frame havin its vends pro'ecting beneath the arche ortion of sai main frame, a carriage slidably mounted on said transverse member, disks on said carri e, means for moving said carriage and dis laterally in either direction, and means for raising and lowering said auxiliary Vframe, substantially as described. 3. In a device of the class described, a main frame mounted upon wheels, said main yframe comprising a pair of longitudinal side members and a plurality of transverse members rigidly connecting the saine, an auxilia frame comprising a air of longitudine members and apair o transverse yokes connectin the saine, said yokes each consisting of a orizontal upper ortion and parallel depending end ortions, vertically disposed ways on the si e members of the main frame for the depending end portions of said yokes, brackets on said main frame, transverse shafts mounted in said brackets and above said yokes'res ectively, drums on crie of said shafts, pul eys or grooved wheels on the other shaft, flexible members secured to said yokes and to said drums, the flexible members attached to the yoke adjacent said pulleys passing over the Isame, means for turning the shaft provided -with said drums, and cultivator members on said auxiliary frame, substantially as described.

4.111 a device of the class described, a,

raised and lowered manually, and to this end I provide the device with means for this purpose operable from the seat 15.

. 48-48 indicate a pair of brackets fixed to and extending upwardly from the main frame members 2 and provided at their upper ends with bearings for a transverse shaft. 49. Secured to the shaft 49 andI directly above the ends of t-he yoke portions 45 of the front yoke are rollers or pulleys 50. Similar brackets 51 are secured to the members 2 adjacent the rear members 46 and are provided at their upper ends with bearings for a transverse shaft 52 upon which are secured drums 53 directly above the ends of the yoke portions 45 of the rear yoke 41. The shaft 52 is directly behind the seat 15 and is provided with a hand wheel 54 for turning the same. A pair of chains 55 are secured to the ends of the forward yoke 41 and passed up over the pulleys 50 and thence to the drums 53 to which they are secured. A pair of similar chains 56 are secured to the ends of the rear yoke 41 and are attached to the drums. It is obvious that by turning the shaft 52 by means of the hand wheel 54 the auxiliary frame will be raised or lowered.

As before stated, this device is particularly adapted for use in the cotton fields where usually, after a rain, the grass quickly grows and forms a tough mat over the ground, and to this end the device is provided with means for breaking and loosening the ground, means for uprooting the grass, and a plurality of disks for pulverizing and leveling the ground. These are all mounted on the auxiliary frame and to them may be added, if desired, a plurality of cultivator shovels. The first two means mentioned are driven by the motor when the machine is in operation while the disks in their ordinary capacity are operated by their contact with the ground.

The means for breaking and loosening the soil is arranged at the forward end of the auxiliary frame and comprises a shaft 57 mounted in 'bearings on said frame,a plurality of spaced disks on said shaft and a plurality of radially disposed sharpened fingers 59 on each of said disks". The shaft 57 with its disks is rotated rapidly as the machine advances between the rows of the plants and the fingers 59 enter the ground breaking and loosening the same.

The means for uprooting the grass comprises a shaft 6() journaled on the auxiliary frame and providedwith a plurality of disks 61 each formed with a plurality of peripheral wedge-shaped hook members 62, the hook portion thereof extending alternately on opposite sides of the disk. The outer edges of the members 62 are preferably straight and sharpened as at 63. The members 62 destroy the grass by chopping the same and by hooking beneath the mat and uprooting the grass from the soil loosened by the fingers 59.

Fixed to the shaft 18 between one of the wheels 17 and the adjacent frame member 2, is a large sprocket wheel 64 whichis connected by a chain G5 to a sprocket wheel 66 on a shaft 67 mounted in bearings 68 on the portions 8 of the side frame member and extending under the seat 15. The shaft 67 is also provided with a gear 69 connected by a chain 70 to a sprocket 71 on the shaft 60. The shaft is also provided with a sprocket wheel 72 connected by chains` 73 with similar sprocket wheels 74 on t-he shaft 57.

It is obvious that when the auxiliary frame is raised or lowered, the distance between the sprockets 69 and 71 will be Varied, and it isI necessary to provide means for taking up the slack of the chain 70 when the auxiliary frame is raised to prevent the chain from accidentally dropping from the sprocket wheels. To this end I provide novel means for automatically taking up the slack atI such times.

Fixed to the forward yoke 41 is a bracket 75 which extends across the main frame member and terminates in a downwardly extending arm 76. Pivotally mounted as at 77 on said arm is a bell crank lev\r 72 com` prising a horizontally'disposed arm 79 and a vertical arm 80. Upon the end ofthe arm 79 is a sprocket wheel 81 arranged within and engaging the chain 70. To the end of the arm 80 is pivotally connected a link 82, the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected as at 83 to the main frame. When the auxiliary frame is raised the lever 78 is rocked by the link S2 moving the sprocket wheel 81 to' take up the slack in the chain 70 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Secured to the horizontal portions 43 of the auxiliary frame members 40 is a transverse member 84. This is preferably formed of a single casting and is provided upon its upper 'face with parallel fianges 85 for attaching the same to the frame. The member 84 is substantially rectangular and its underface is provided or formed with a longitudinal channel 86, the sides of which are formed with parallel ways 87. Slidably mounted in the channel 86 and upon the ways 87 is a carriage SS upon the ends of which are formed depending arms 89. The lower ends of the arms 89 are provided with bearings 90 for a transverse shaft 91 upon which are mounted the disks The upper face of the carriage 8S is provided with a rack 93 and the member 84 is provided with the grooves 94 to permit free passage of the rack therethrough.

Mounted in bearings 95 on the member 84 and a transverse member 96 of the auxiliary said auxiliary frame, means for connecting In testimony whereof I have signed my said motor to said carriage for moving the name to this speclication in the presence of latter and a flexible unit 1n the same means two subscrlbmg witnesses.

whereby the auxiliary frame may be raised JAMES CORBIN AVARY. and lowered without disturbing the connec- Witnesses:

tion between the motor and the carriage, W. TIM. ALLEN,

substantially as described. H. C. CHAPMAN. 

